When you are a friendly person , you tend to be approachable and polite.It’s not because you like the person.That’s in your nature an inherent quality you possess.

When you are a smiling person ,you tend to genuinely flash a warm smile in your conversations.It’s not because you want to please the person.That’s your way to spread positivity.

When you are a good listener,you tend to give full attention to the speaker.It’s not because you have all the time in the world.That’s your way of attentively and sympathetically understanding the speaker.

You would agree that the above qualities are found in a good and dependable friend.

We all need such people in our day to day lives.

What many of us don’t realize is just because someone possesses these pleasing qualities it does not give them the right to take him\her for granted.

We are born having too many pre-defined relations but friendship is the only relationship we can choose on our own and if we get it right, our lives become easy to pull through.

They are with us in our highs and lows, ups and downs,happiness and sorrow.

What if your friends take advantage of your niceness and start to behave indifferently.

Emotional pains are more dangerous than any disease as there are no clear symptoms or cure for it.

Just because your friend has been treating you well every-time you wanted to talk or chat does not mean he\she is ready to take any kind of crap.

Treasure your friends,do not misuse the bond.Once the cracks are formed in the relationship they will remain forever.

Treat them the way you would want to be treated.Protect them and not exploit.

Friends will always be your true earnings and your friendship will reflect the warmth.

We constantly make friends in all facets of our life and each holds its own richness of understanding and acceptance.

Positively fuel your friendships and they will never let you wither away.

Practice the pause, you will avoid doing and saying things you may later regret.

My personal experience.

We recently had our college reunion in Dubai with our local “Vivians” who attended from all batches.

Reunions are a form of time travel, when who we are now gets acquainted with who we were then.

It was a nostalgic evening which took us back to the carefree days filled with fun,tantrums and memories.

Everything about a college reunion is a reminder of privilege – of having a chance to attend it in the first place then explore and experiment.An opportunity to be foolish together and then periodically reunite to forgive and forget.

The older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

It was a delight to watch couples who have stayed together since college,grown up together to become finer couples.

While conversing with a friend you discover that some advises you had given in the past to him\ her which you may have forgotten has turned out to be an unforgettable turning point for the person.

Sometimes it also happens that people who touched you most deeply have no memory of that chapter at all.

Hence Reunions are important as they help you rediscover yourself from an old lens.

And now about the evening –

We had an enthusiastic Reunion Organiser Sapna who along with couple of others planned,executed and ensured the evening gets etched in our memory and hearts for times to come.

We had a cool and enthusiastic EMCEE

Joe Mohan who had really done his homework well.He successfully kept us hooked together and engaged us all evening helping us reminisce our college days.

The nightingale of our college Saurabh Ail with his melodious voice uplifted the moods of each one present.His voice and choice of songs left us teary eyed.He touched our hearts the same way he did decades back.

We had a DJ to our disposal who maintained his smile throughout the evening catering to each one’s choice of songs on the dance floor.

How can I miss mentioning about the team games arranged by our Reunion organizing committee and of course the gifts that followed.

Parties are never complete without food and drinks.Lip smacking appetizers to unlimited booze and a huge variety of desserts.

Last but not the least each one was given a gift at the end of the event as a token of love and memory we carried as we walked out of the party hall.

There was a flow of mixed emotions towards the end and no one wanted to leave.The good byes lasted long,there were hugs and promises made to catch up soon again.

The party hall became home away from home for all of us.

Summer break holds a special place in children’s life.

It’s typically the longest school break of the academic year.

It is the time when children can relax and enjoy their free time.A time to catch up on anything that was kept on hold.Spending quality time with family and friends, and also the best time to explore new hobbies or interests.

Some choose to travel,the ones away from home country make plans to visit home and rest choose to relax in their own way.

This year becomes special – Many would be travelling home after 3 years as Covid\lockdown kept us away for long.

Its been a long awaited emotional holiday for many.

Make up for the lost time,catch up on all that you missed.

It could be from milestone birthdays to anniversaries or anything..

When you are with your family you can recreate the day and make up for all those lost moments.

Do not let go the chance as we really don’t know what the future holds for us.

Can’t wait to be home!

Happy Holidays to one and all 😊

Be safe and Keep adding memories 🤗

The stature given to it is “God of all subjects”.

Good enough to bring in the additional pressure.

Math is not everybody’s cup of tea and that should be perfectly alright.

Mathematics as a subject brings in anxiety to many.It’s strange but true,even before the topic is covered in school, anxiety creeps in making it’s debut in your minds.

Many feel extremely nervous in a situation where they are required to do basic math. For subjects like English, marks can come from a variety of factors like creativity, spelling, grammar, style, punctuation, and much more. With math, there are few opportunities to earn marks because an answer can only be right or wrong.

Numbers and formulas do not excite everyone. Maths is looked at as an abstract subject with irrelevant figures that are difficult to understand.

Being nervous is normal but having anxiety is different.The main trigger to anxiety is letting this feeling of ,”I am not good in maths” make room in your mind which later triggers and makes you believe,“I do not like the subject”.

Why is there so much peer pressure for this subject?

What I feel is,how math is taught decides the liking or non liking for it.The best teachers can make you fall in love with the subject.

Math to me is different, it’s not just another subject but an emotion.As a young child, I learned to love math. My love for math stems from learning math from my father.In our house it meant father-daughter bonding time and we surely created memories of a life time in a short while.

What I like about the subject most is you can either be right or wrong. There’s no grey area. I personally enjoy this objective approach and the certainty that it brings in.Also there is no scope for speculation as everything requires an evidence.

New concepts rely on the old which you would have learnt in the past making it more interesting and engaging.

The joy of solving a problem which you initially felt impossible is unparalleled.A math lover would vouch on that.It’s a different kick that you get by cracking sum.

It never gets monotonous,each day learning gets more interesting and you look forward to it.

Math also teaches that every problem has a solution.

I would like to say I love the subject probably because I had the best teacher- My father -I call him a Math Wiz.

So don’t feel bad or dejected it’s just that you are yet to come across the best teacher 😉

The mistakes that happen in our life cannot become the ultimate yardstick to define us.It’s unfair to judge someone by them.

Mistakes are like the initial drafts we prepare with trial and errors hence it becomes important to wait for the final version.

Your mistakes aren’t engraved on any stone that you don’t get a second chance.

There is always a second chance,look for it.It gives you more courage,patience and wisdom to right the wrong.

When life gives you the second chance be grateful don’t feel entitled.

Take it as an opportunity to work harder and make things right. It’s what you do with the second chance that counts.    

That’s why it’s said ,”Your comeback is stronger than your setback”.

If I had to simplify this whole thing – I would say,”if you have a tomorrow then that’s your second chance”.

I have many flaws,scars and imperfections.

I own them,accept them and they keep me grounded.

It’s not that I didn’t try to fix them or perfect them.

I also tried and pushed myself like most of you would have done.

In the process of doing so I realized I gave it too much attention than it deserved losing sight of all the good things happening around me.

This flawed feeling in your head robs your inner peace and happiness directly affecting your confidence.

This may sound philosophical to you but love is the easiest heal.

Love your flaws,accept it and you will feel liberated.

Once we accept ourself the biggest battle is won.

We always mistake it by asking ourself,

“Will I be accepted?”

Nobody needs to accept you -You need to accept yourself.

My body,My personality,My life and My circumstances – they are all mine then why do I seek Your opinion and why should Your view matter to me.

Be compassionate to yourself,love yourself -Love should be your antidote.

We are all created unique and special.

We are here for a bigger purpose and what we call a flaw is just a minute part of the masterpiece we are ❤️

I am a Imperfectly perfect mom.

Sometimes I expect too much of myself and forget to embrace who I actually am.

By trying to be perfect each time I succumb to the pressures of becoming an overachieving mother to an extent I lose my identity.

I do not need to strive to be a perfect mom,I can just be a good one.

There have been some difficult days and I have managed to pull it off.

Why do I not credit myself on that little achievement?

Why do I overthink calling it a mothers job?

Why do I get so hard on myself ,mistakes will happen as there is no script for me to follow.

Why do I measure myself by an impossible yardstick as that will only set me up for a certain failure.

Now I tell myself let the standards slide I am entitled to my feelings and happiness.

I have my own style and I don’t follow anyone and at the same time not expect anyone to follow me.

It takes time to get to that wisdom.It’s a journey where your child grows and you mature as a mother.

I do not want to be a super mom – I want to be just a mom who is part of the family photograph.Any extra attention given to me directly increases the pressure of being a mother.

Happy Mother’s Day to one and all mothers ❤️.

Just be a mother (no adjectives attached).

You are the best your child has.

Do you pack surprises in lunch boxes- for your spouse or children 😊

Surprise need not always be a special snack\dessert.

I pack small notes for them on their special days and also on days when they are unusually stressed.

These are not long letters but a few lines of funny and quirky lunch box notes that would bring a smile on their face.

It doesn’t take much time and my experience says it has an immediate effect and has a long lasting benefit.

We do live in the WhatsApp era but let me tell you hand written notes still hold a very special place in one’s heart.

Unexpectedly receiving something special can be very heart warming.

A simple way of brightening their day and practicing a simple way of teaching them how to find and give happiness.

Some days can be stressful at work and you can just make out reading their faces – why not sneak an old picture or a memory which breaks the chain of stress for few a minutes and rejuvenates their mind.

If there is an examination at school or a cricket match -I can’t always be physically present with them but these secret notes can travel in their bags – helps them to stay brave and gives them the confidence that no matter what happens I will be there for them.All they need to do is their best honestly.

Well these days I get surprised with “Thank you notes” and lots of hearts ❤️

One shouldn’t be disappointed or feel offended by the first reaction or emotion he receives.

You are the party communicating but the opposite party will take sometime to process it.Instant reaction need not always be in your favor.It can be driven by a library of beliefs, biases, and prejudices of an unconscious mind.Many a times we regret at our own first reactions.

Response is slower compared to reaction as it will be based on information,facts and a conscious mind.

Reaction and Response may look alike but are very different.

Response may not always be positive but it will be backed up by both your conscious and unconscious mind.

Follow the pause technique whenever you feel you are about to react.Take a deep breath and then gather yourself fully to respond.It helps you align your thoughts and rearrange your prejudices.

This only comes with practice and needs a constant effort.